arsy-varsy

ar·sy-var·sy

A a

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ahr-see-vahr-see]
- /ˈɑr siˈvɑr si/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [ahr-see-vahr-see]
- /ˈɑr siˈvɑr si/

Definitions of arsy-varsy word

adjective arsy-varsy wrong end foremost; completely backward: an arsy-varsy way of doing things. 1
adverb arsy-varsy in a backward or thoroughly mixed-up fashion: The papers are all filed arsy-varsy. 1

See all 2 definitions of arsy-varsy

Information block about the term

Origin of arsy-varsy

First appearance:

before 1530

One of the 29% oldest English words

1530-40; probably alteration of Latin vice versa (see vice versa), with arse substituted to make a facetious rhyming compound; for Latin versa > varsy, cf. argal3

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Arsy-varsy

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Arsy-varsy

arsy-varsy popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 29% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data about 71% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.